It breaks my heart to watch John McCain these days.

[11 Bravo]

30 years ago the man was one of very few members of my personal pantheon of heroes. During his time in the Hanoi Hilton, McCain displayed a level of physical courage and leadership that is damned near unbelievable. When given the option of early release due to his father's position as CinCPac, and after already undergoing years of torture, McCain, knowing full well that it would lead to even greater hardship, told his captors to fuck off, insisting that he would leave only when every other POW was released.
The fact that a man with that kind of fortitude has now been reduced to a Bush-hugging, principle-compromising, sycophant moves me to tears.
I have never heard the siren song of the Presidency, but if it can do this to a once brave and honorable man, then it's just not worth it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. even 8 yrs ago, there was a shread of cred,

now it's the shreading of cred.

[BlooInBloo]

8. No there wasn't. He's ALWAYS been among the most batshit conservative voters...

... in the Senate. His faux-cred is just DUers falling for shit like they always do. They fall for Snarlin Arlen, they fall for Chuck Hagel, and so forth.

[durrrty libby]

2. I would be heartbroken if he became POTUS and dirtied up SCOTUS even more

[11 Bravo]

3. As would I.

But I don't think there's a snowball's chance in Hell of that coming to pass. He pissed away his credibility right along with his honor.

[daninthemoon]

4. Bush and the neo-cons did what the entire north vietnamese army

could not. They broke him.

[Hekate]

5. It looks like it, and it's very hard to watch.

Interestingly enough my own Mr. H (who is *not* a political junkie) still thinks of McCain as the honorable and outstanding man he once was, and would vote for him if given the chance.

It makes me wonder how many others share Mr. H's view. On the one hand, if John McCain chooses to retire after the primaries, he will still have something of his reputation intact to take home with him. On the other hand, he could pick up votes based on the past.

But I do believe he will not get much further in his quest for the presidency.

Hekate

[mitchum]

13. And that's proof that the carrot is more effective than the stick

[Beausoir]

15. Wow and ouch. And probably very true.

[Kajsa]

23. That's so true.

And it's very sad.

;(

[petersjo02]

6. There are many things that break my heart

but watching double-talking John McCain implode isn't one of them. Watching him cuddle up to GWB after Bush's minions had made a mockery of McCain and his family in South Carolina, I have no sympathy for him, zero, ziltch, nada, none.

[Virginia Dare]

11. And when he stood by and let them trash Kerry...

that was the clincher for me.

[Cosmocat]

21. YEP ...

That told the story right there, this supposed "maverick" ... I can say with pretty much dead certaintly, that had they gone after my family like that I WOULD have flown to where ever Karl Rove was and beat his sniveling, cowardly weasel butt up and down the room, I would have kicked his freakin teeth in ...

But, then, I am just some weak kneed liberal ..

[SoCalDem]

7. Yep.. he stayed too long at the party. he should have listened to Kenny Rogers

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

Know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done.
”

The gambler then mentions that the "secret to survivin' is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep" and that the best you can hope for is to "die in your sleep". At this point, the gambler puts out the cigarette and goes to sleep.

At the end of the song we are told that "somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even" (dies), and that the narrator finds "an ace that I could keep" in his final words.

......

The song itself tells the story of a late-night meeting on a train between Rogers (as narrator) and an unnamed gambler. The gambler tells Rogers that he can tell Rogers is down on his luck ("out of aces") by the look in his eyes and offers him advice in exchange for the last swallow of whiskey Rogers has. After the gambler takes the drink (and a cigarette), he gives the following advice:
“ You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

Know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done.
”

The gambler then mentions that the "secret to survivin' is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep" and that the best you can hope for is to "die in your sleep". At this point, the gambler puts out the cigarette and goes to sleep.

At the end of the song we are told that "somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even" (dies), and that the narrator finds "an ace that I could keep" in his final words.

Analysis

The song is often characterized as a metaphor for life in that you need to know when to stand your ground (when to hold 'em) and when to retreat (when to fold 'em). The gambler has learned that the trick to life isn't the cards you've been dealt, but how to play them (every hand being a "winner" or a "loser" depending on how they are played). The "ace" that Rogers refers to in the end is this advice.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambler_(song)

[canadianbeaver]

9. He left before every POW was released......research it!!

Go to Disinfo.com...and do a search on McCain...you will be surprised...he is no saint...the man has been damaged......and continues to damage himself.
I realize some may say that particular web site I spoke of is a conspiracy wacko site..but I don't buy it.....the site provides many links to support their reporting/collecting of data...and I won't throw away the baby with the bathwater...some things are off the wall but not everything....some research is still needed to find out all points of view...

[11 Bravo]

16. Read John Hubbell's POW.

Also, I watched McCain get off the same airplane as the rest when our POWs were released. I believe you are misinformed.
And, please, don't try to hijack this thread. I made it clear that I believe that McCain has morphed into a prick, a man without honor. But that doesn't change what he did as a POW. (Now watch, this entire thread will spiral into the shitter, and I will be accused of being a McCain apologist.)

[canadianbeaver]

25. No hijacking here...just putting out another point of view...

The man has been damaged beyond repair....just my opinion...I will check out John Hubbells POW..thank you for offering up another avenue to check...

I am glad you watched McCain get off the same airplane...but who's to say..others didn't get off because they weren't on the plane in the first place? this is a serious response to your reply. In the world today....you are right..and I am right!...just looking at the same thing from different sides. Its all good tho.

[Bake]

10. It doesn't break my heart at all.

The guy would be every bit as dangerous as B*sh. Watching him self-destruct is actually a bit of a relief. It should happen to all of the Puke candidates.

Bake

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. "Bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran."

Compare and contrast McCain and Ahmadinejad. I don't see much difference.

[11 Bravo]

18. At this point, neither do I.

That's what saddens me.

[Javaman]

14. It all ended when he gave his man love hug to moron* in 04

any shred of decency that was left in his cold dark heart vanished in an instant at that very moment.

[daninthemoon]

17. That was the Stockholm Syndrome moment

[Javaman]

19. LOL nt

[spanone]

20. not me, it fries my ass.

[madokie]

22. hell that breaks my heart too

[Romulox]

24. Selling out is its own reward. I don't feel even a little sorry for him...

In fact, it gives me great pleasure that John McCain will never get to be panderer-in-chief!:toast:

[Disturbed]

26. McLame made his choices.

He should retire from public office because he is a disgraceful hypocrite.

[lonestarnot]

27. Fucking A cry me a fucking river.

The mcdrain has free will.

[trumad]

28. Fuck McCain---may he rot in hell.

[lonestarnot]

29. Drink'n to dat!

Trumad! :toast:

[applegrove]

30. He has been greatly diminished by his association with the * White House.